Button attaching machine



Oct. 19, 1943. J. NlELsl-:N 2,332,249

BUTTON ATTACHING -MACHINE Filed June 1 0, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l f/ Q] A i Z- i@ I o n Y T T w MMM/ 0 w Hll 164 /I/vr flll JNVOR BY. JE/m//Yem ATroRxgEYS.

Oct. 19, 1943. J. NlELsr-:N

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 1o, 1940 5 sheets-Sheet 2 BY 9/ e5.

ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 19, 1943. J. NlELsl-:N 2,332,249

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June vl0, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY 5.

Oct. 19, 1943.

J. NIELSEN BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 10 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mwN WSN mmh J. NIELsEN BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE oct. 19, 1943.

Filed June 10, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www..

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 19, r1943*.Y

John Nielsen, 'Be-lot, Wis., assignor to American Pearlv ButtonCo., Washington, Iowa', a'corporation of Iowa n This invention relates to az machine particularly designed for inserting fasteners in the Shanks of shank type buttons afterarticlesv of clothing` or display cards have been associated with the buttons by placing buttonholes thereofy over the Shanks of the buttons.

One object of the invention ist to provid'ea unitary machine of simple.; durable and inexpensive construction into which loose buttons and fasteners may be deposited andthe machine, upon operation, feeds the buttons and-fasteners into magazines fromwhich theyv are discharged, the buttons being located in a predetermined position so that an element toiwhich they arefto be attached may be placedr over thel shank-v of the button, whereupon the machine may heselectively operated to insert the fastener in position for fastening the button to the element More particularly, it is my object to provide a machine in which a button hopper has a disc Vtherein to pick up buttons from the hopperv and discharge them into a button magazine, an escapement mechanism effecting proper release at the desired time of 'abutton lfrom the button magazine to a position where it is pickedl up. and

`rotated by a push bar to proper fastener receivy te the insertion of the fastener into the shanlnf Another Objectis to provide a. fastener hopper from which the fastenersvare taken by a pickup disc and discharged into a fastener magazine, escapement mechanism being provided in connection with the fastener magazine to permit the fasteners to escape at the proper time to a position on a slide that opens up to let the fastener rotate toa properly alignedv position with the shank of the button which is at operatingposition, a ram and fastening ejector mechanismbeing thereafter operable to advance the fastener toward the button shank and finally thrust it through the shank for thusattaching the button to the garment or card.

Still another object is Ato provide hopper and pick-up disc.l mechanisms: for the buttons and fasteners, together with button and fastener magazines which are so designed that buttons and fasteners are fedl in excess of requirements to the magazines and the excess' buttons-.and fasv'teners dropped back into .their respective hop- Still another object is to provide a meansy for vibrating the lbutton magazine to insure travel of the Ybuttons therein by gravity Without any' trouble. from sticking of the buttonswithrelation tothe button magazine. 5 f g, A further object is toY providek acamshaft for operating the various mechanisms ofmy button attaching machine, the operating devices being spring advanced as permittedby camson the lWill of the operator one revolution at a-time, re-

gardless of Whether the clutch pedal is held down or released; va friction drive means for the button and'fastener pick-up discs to prevent breakage o f machine parts in thev event of jamming; irsimple ejector` devices for each button and fastener pick-up pocket ofthe button and fastener vpick-up discs operated by passing over rollers vatjthe. ejecting positions, and other features of construction which Willhereinafter appear as the description of my invention proceeds.

With tn eforegoing as wen as other objectsfin i yvievv,'my invention consists in the construction, Karrangeme.ntl and combination of the various parts of my" device whereby` the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forthppointedout` in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the invention. is susceptibleof a variety of embodiments, itis unnecessary to fully describe and ily lustrate more than one in order to give a full 'understanding of the invention bothf'from its 'structural and functional standpoints.

Accordingly, I have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lfis a perspective view of a button attaching machine embodying myv invention and illustrating it from the front Where the operator stands or-sits When operating it; f'

Figure 2- is an enlarged plan View as on the line 2f-2of Figure 1 showing thecamshaft and Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-5 of Figure showing the fastener hopper and the upper end of the fastener magazine; y

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view on 1-1 of Figure 2 showing a one position of a ram mechanism of my machine;

Figure 8 is a Similar sectional view showing another position thereof;

Figure 9 is a similar sectional view showing still another position thereof;

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line Ill-I D of Figure '7;

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line lI-II of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a sectional vertical view I2-I2 of Figure 2, and

Figure 13 is a rear elevational view of the mechanism shown in the upper right hand corner of on the line Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow I3 adjacent Figure 12.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference characters I4 to indicate generally a supporting frame and T a top. A casing C is mounted on the top T. Most of the mechanism of my machine is mounted on the top T within the casing C. On the front of the casing C, I provide a button hopper I5 and a fastener hopper I6. Buttons B and fasteners F are adapted to be deposited loosely in the hoppers I5 and IB, respectively.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4. a button. pick-up disc I1 forms a bottom for the button hopper I5. The disc I1 is frictionally driven from a shaft I8 in the following described manner: A friction washer I9 is positioned againt a ange 2|! of the shaft I8 and the hub of the disc I1 is positioned against the friction washer. A second friction washer 2| is positioned against the outer face of the disc and held thereagainst by a washer 22 and a nut 23.` The nut 23 is screwed onto a reduced threaded portion 24 of the shaft I8 and is retained inits desired adjusted position by a lock nut 25. The shaft I8 rotates in a bearing 26 and is driven from a shaft 21 by a worm 28 and a worm gear 29. The drive shaft 21 is continuously driven from a motor M by pulleys and 3| 1 and a belt 32. i n

`The button pick-up disc I1 has a plurality of pockets 33 adjacent its periphery, into which the buttons B drop as the disc I1 rotates. The buttons B are of the type having shanks34 of eyelet type and the buttons are retained in the pockets 33 and carried upwardly only when they enter the pockets 33 in a desired position, i. e., with the faces of the buttons against the bottoms of the pockets and the Shanks 34 projecting'towar'd the front of the machine.

Each pocket 33 is provided with an ejector pin 35 normally held in non-ejecting position by a spring 35. The ejector pins 35 successively pass over a single roller 31 supported by a bracket 38.

The bracket 38 has a slot 39 receiving a cap screw the lll'le i i permit passage of the button shank 35i.

' if Thebutton magazine BM, as shown in Figure 3, is inclined downwardly .toward the front of the machine vso thatthe buttons slide down it by gravity. Toguide the buttons during such sliding movement. the button magazine includes a i -pair of plates 45, which plates define the slot 44.

To aid the sliding movement these plates are pivoted at 46 to the frame of the button maga-- zine and are oscillatable about said pivot. These plates are'pivoted adjacent their lowerY ends to a transversely-slidable bar'41 having ad'ownwardly and rearwardly inclined extension 48. The 'extension 43 carries a pin 48 entering a bifurcated lever 58. The lever 53 is mounted on a rockshaft 5I journaledk at itsforward endin a bearing 52 `and at its rearward endin a bearing53."

The rockshaft 5I at its rear end has a downwardly extending lever 54 connected by-a spring 55 to thebralcket 53. The spring' ftends to rotate the rockshaft 5l clockwise, as viewed from the front of the machine. The lever 54 is connected by a 55 to a lever 51. r'The lever 51, as shown in Figure 13, is piv-l oted at 58 to a bearing member 53. rThe'lever 5l carries a roller 5 9 designed to be engaged by a cam lobe 6I on a gear 62. The gear 62 meshes with an idler pinion' 63 which in turn is secured to an idler gear 64. The Vidler-gearl 24 is rotated by a drive pinion on the drive shaft 21. The gear 6 2 is rotatable on a camshaft 5S journaled in the bearing 5 8 land in another bearing E5, as shown in Figure 2.

Y After the buttons B pass the bar 41, they yengage a button escapement mechanism including slidable pins S1 and 68. The pins 6 1 and'S are secured to arms 69 and 1@ which in turn aresecured to'a slidable shaft 1i. The shaft 1l is urged towardV the left by a spring 12 )to engage a set screw 13 of a bell crank 14. The bell crank 14 is rotated counterclockwise in Figure 2 by a link 15 having an end 15 to engage a pin 11 of the bell crank 14, as'shown in Figure 3. The link 15 is'fpartof a second link 18 pivoted at T2 to a slidable plate 80. The plate 139 is slid by a link 8| and a lever 32.' The lever 32 is pivoted 'to a stationary shaft 63 and carri-es a roller 84 to engage a cam 85. A spring 86 serves through its connection with a bell crank 31 to urge the roller 84 toward the cam The cam is mounted on the camshaft 66, while the bell crank 81 is connected with the link 18. After the buttons leave the eseapement pins 51 and 68, they slide down a more steeply inclined portion 88 of the slot 43 or" the button magazine BM (see Figure 3) They come to'rest on a plate 93 (see Figure 3a) held against ledges 9| of a pair of guide bars 92 by a light spring S3. The shank 34'in this position of the button B is usually not properly aligned kfor receiving a fastener.`

The button arriving at the point just `rlscribed -.(which is indicated as B' in Figures 2 and 3a) vis thenshfted toan opcratingposition .B by a push bark 94; The'ipush. bar 84 is secured :to fa .inserted therein bythe machine..` f

The fastener hopper IB vhas' associated therei "Figures 2 and 10).

block 94a. The block'xispslidably arranged Iin ways vbland isk propelled by-the bellirank 81 vthrough a link. 95 connecting the block villlawith the bell crank. Thepush bar 94 has a notch` 36 L vand a pair of inclined faces 91. and 98 serving as "retreating me sud@ los' to the dotted 'Figure 10 at the proper-time.

an entrance to the slot-for the purpose of engag'- ing the buttonshank 34 .and turning the button causes. the shank of the button at the position B" to have its eye opening toward the rear' of the machine so that a fastener F can'be readily lWithya fastener plcki-up disc'l', as shown in Flgure. The disc. 93 forms a bottom for the hopper I6. 'I'he disc '93 is ofthe same general V'character as the button'pick-up disc lI1 ofi Figure Sand is' driven 'in a similar manner. Accordingly, I will not describe it in detail but have applied the following` reference numerals there' 28a, 33a, 35a, 36a,f31a, 38d, 33a and'40a. The parts just enumerated correspond to similar"y parts in connection with the buttonfhopper omitting the a. The pockets v33u`a're of a different shape from the pockets 33`as they are designed to refpins 35a, they enter a guide depression |00 and Aan` intake member IDI of asfastener magazine FM, as shown in Figure 6. The fasteners first pass through a slot |02, then through, an open space |03 and thenrintoa slot |04 of theV fastener magazine FM.V vWhenever there are excess fasteners, they may fall out through the `open space |03 and back into the fastener hopper IS. Thedisc Ila has a plurality of webs v|05 to engage vthe loosefasteners in the hopperand agitate themV so that Vthey will readily. enter the pockets 33a. I o t I The fastenersF slide down the fastener' magazine FM guided by the slot |04 therein and the lowermostl one finds its way onto a slide.'v |03 (see Figures 1 and 13) The remainingr fasteners are held back by an escapement pin|01carried`by a rockshaft |03, As shown in Figure '7, when the pin |01 is in its fullI line position itslides all but thelowermostfastener Fslightly back up the slot |34 to permit free action 'of the fastener on the slide |06 `for subsequent operations.

' .The rockshaft |08 is rotated toward the full line position of Figure 7|b'ya spring |09 (see The rocksh'aft. |08 carries a downwardly extending arm |10 heldby the spring |09 against a projection I I 4of a bell crank lever Y I I2. The bell crank lever |I2 ispivo-ted at ||3 and is urged to rotate clockwise in'Figure 2 by a v A pull rod' IIS extends loosely spring I |4.

provided with a plurality of sockets |49.

Position of Next to the'cam |9 on the camshaft Vfit a cam |23 cooperating with a roller |24. The roller l|24 is carried by a bell crank |25, the downwardly extending arm' of which is 'relatively long; as

shown'inFigure 5. Thelower end of this arm is connected by a llink |26 to a'bell crank |21 piv.- oted atf.|28. vA spring |29 tends to rotate the bell crank lever |21 clockwise and the bell crank levercarries a set screw |30 adapted to contact at times with the button supporting plate 90..

Referring to vFiguresand 10,` a slidable ram |3|fis illustrated having a groove |32; 'as shown in Figure 1-1, receiving a fastener ejector -bar |33. The forward end of the bar |33'is indicated at |34 in Figure '7. The forward end of the yram .has 'a guard |35 secured thereto. When the slide |03 opens to the dotted position v'of Figure, 10, the fastener F lying thereon is turned a quarter turn and drops through a slot 35 into the'groove |32 of the ram I3'I, as shown by dotted lines in Figure '1. rIhe ram |3| and its ejector bar |33 then move forwardlytothe position shown in Figure 8 with the guard |35 over a card or other element |31 that has been positioned with abuttonhole |36 thereof over the shank .34 ofthe button B by the operator, as shown in Figures?.

vThereafter the ejector bar |33 pushes the fastener to the nalposition of Figure 9 as the ram I3| is started in a retracting direction. Finally the ejector bar |33 also returns.

The sliding movements of the ram |3I andthe vejector bar |33 are controlled by links |39and |40, respectively. The rear ends of the links are pivoted to'bellcranksIM and |42respective1y, which as shown in Figure 2 carry rollers' |43 and |44. Springs |4311 and |44a connected with arms I'4I and |42 cause the .rollers |43 and |44 to normallycoact with cams |45 and |46 on .the camshaft 66. All of the bell cranksl I I8, |25,1|4| and .|42 are pivoted on the stationary shaft`03 and held against axial movement thereon by a collar |41. fixed to the shaft. f

.To operate the camshaft 66 at the proper time desired, I provide a clutchmechanism, shown in Figures 12 and 13, which will now be described. The continuously rotating gear 62 has a collar |48 Another collar is secured to the camshaft 66 and has sldable therein a keyf|.5|. The 'key |5| is urged by a spring |52 toward the collar |48.

. Al vertically slidable. member |53 .has a cam surface |54 to coact with a shoulder |55 of. the

-key-I5`I and aat spot |53a at one end of.

the cam face. The'lcam surface |54 pulls the key .|5I out of any socket |43 in which it may be through a perforated end H6 ofthe bell` crank lever ||2 and is pivoted at its rear end to a pin ||1 extending from a bell crank lever IIL, The bell'cranklever I8carries a roller |19 engaging a cam |20 on the camshaft 35. c, The slide |06, as .shown in Figure`2, is urged toward the full line position of Figure l0 by a spring I2|. The slide carries a pin V|22 adapted to l.be engaged by the bell crank lever H2 for yassociated parts vvhas been spent.

|53 is urged upwardly by aspring |56 so that it l will serve to Withdraw the key at a predeter Vlodged and the shoulder |55 `of the key' comes to rest on or before it reaches the dat spot |53a when the momentum of the cam shaft 'isand its 'The member A spring urges the rod upwardly. The-mem' ber |51 has a shoulder ll'toengage a projection |62 of the member |53. Whenever the rod |59 is pulled downwardly, it alsoV pulls the member |53 downwardly so that the kei/"|5| ig permitted y to drop into one of the sockets |49. The key almost immediately thereafter,'during its rotation, engages a `curved Yface |53 of the member |51. to swing it toward the left in Figure 12 against fasaaezie the push bar 94 will engage the shank of the is Apulled downwardly and then released, or

whether it is held downwardly.

For the purpose of pulling the rod |53 downwardly, I provide a cable |54 passing over and under pulleys |55 and |63 and attached at.its-

lower end to a treadle |61 convenientlypositioned so that the operator can depress it by inea-ns of his foot. i

'Practical operation In the operation of my-'buttonA attaching machine, the hopper discs I1 and 99 rotate continuously as long as the motor M is, energized `by means of a conveniently located switch I 58. The operator deposits a supply of buttons in the hopper |5 and a supply of fasteners in the hopper i5, whereupon the machine is ready for the operation of fastening buttons to display cards or garments.

When' the treadle |51 is depressed, it will first operate the ram mechanism and thereafter bring a button to operation position B in Figure 2. The ram mechanism andthe button positioning mechanism are operated as a result of depressionof the pedal |61 moving'the member |51.

downwardly. In rest position shoulder |55 of key |5| is normally on the fiat spot |53c of member |53. The member |51 has its shoulder |5| overhanging the shoulder |62 of the member 53, as shown in Figure 12, and therefore the member |53 is moved downwardly with the member |51. This will result inthe flat spot |5311 of the member |53 moving downwardly to a position where it no longer registers with the shoulder |55 of the key |5| and the key |5| will therefore drop into one of the sockets |49 of the gear` 52.

Since the gear 62 is continuously rotating, the key |5| will then be carried with the gear and in turn will rotate the collar` |55 and the camshaft 66. During the first part of such rotation,v the key |5| engages the cam face |33 of the member |51 and swings this member toward the left, againstthe bias of the spring urgedpin Ifib. This operation releases the shoulder |3| from the member |53 so that the spring |55` will raise the member |53 to its initial position.

The camshaft 66, through its cam H25, the roller |43, the 'bell crank |4I and the link 13S, moves the ram I3i from the position of Figure 9 through the position of Figure 8 to the position of Figure 1 against the bias of the spring IdSa. The tension of spring I43a moves the ram' |3I in reverse direction. The ejector bar |33 is similarly moved under the action of its spring |4411 and in reverse direction by the cam |46, the bell crank |42 and the link |43. Movement of the ram and ejector will eject'a fastener without a button being in position to receive the fastener. Such operation is necessary, however, to start the machine for proper operating cycles.

button and rotate it to a properly aligned position for subsequent reception of a fastener. The button will'b-e pushedV by the push bar to position B for receiving the next fastener to be ejected from the ram. f

Thereupon the set screw |33 (see Figure 8) is lpermitted to be raised by theV spring |29 (see Figure 5) as the lobe of the cam |23 leaves the roller |24 and thereby permits the bell crank |23 and the link |25 to be moved by the spring. The set screw will engage the clamp bar 93 for clamping the button at position B" against a pair of spring plates 92a, as shown in Figure 3a, so that the shank 34 of the button is rigidly held with the button at position B" for the fastener insertion operation to be performed in the next cycle of operation of the machine.

One revolution of the camshaft is then completed and the camshaft rotation stopped by the shoulder of the key |5| engaging the cam surface |54 of the member |53. The cam surface, being inclined with respect to a plane of rotation normal to the axis of the shalt 56, will slide the key |5| to the left (in Figure J3), thus disengaging it from the socket |49 in which it has been located. As the shaft 66 rotates at a relatively slow speed and the rollers against the cams of the camshaft constitute some drag, the shaft will stop almost immediately with the 'shoulder |55 of the key not beyond the fiat spot I53a of the member |53. p l

We now have a button held in position Where the operator may place a buttonhole of the display card or garment over the shank of the button and again depress the treadle |61 to cause a fastener 'F to enter the eye of the shank 34 of the'button at position B. When the treadle is so depressed, the ram and ejector mechanism will operate as already described, the ram |3I moving to the position of Figure 8 and thereafter the ejector |33 ejecting the fastener from ,the ram to the position of Figure 9. The ram and the ejector then start on their return movements. The clamp vplate 9|! is then released by lowering of the set screw |35 caused by the lobe of thecam |23 lifting the roller |24 and rotating the bell crank |21 (Figure 5) counterclockwise against the action of the spring |29 and through the bell crank |23 and the link |25.

This completes a secondcycle of operation and l a second revolution of the camshaft 63, during which the escapement pins 61, 38 and |01 for the buttons and fasteners operate 'at the proper times. The escapement .pins -E21 and 63 are operated against the bias of the spring 12 through the plunger 1I, set screw 13, bell crank 14, pin 11 and end 16 of the link 15 from the slide 83 operated by the cam 85. The escapement pin |01 is operated by the cam |23 through thero'ller IIS, the bell crank IIB and the link II5 against the bias of the spring I4.

The various cams on the camshaft are properly set for the desired timing of the different mechanisms operated by the shaft. VThe-e'scapementy pin 61 (shown in Figure 2) is in the path of a shank of a button in the magazine BM.A As. the cam starts to rotate, the set screw 13 will be retracted 'So-that" the spring' 'i2 willfmove the' pin Blout `of'the'path ofmovementfof the shank and the pin lllint'o itsl pathofv movement to prevent the but- -tonffrom gravitating to a positior against the rear side of the'- push bar 914.l When the push bar isretr'acted, the'plunger 'H will be forced toward` lthe right by the set-screw 13', thusy releasing the button shank Withrespect to the escapement Apin '68 so that the button will slide down toposition B for the next operating cycle. At the saine time, thefescapement pin'ii will move to position to stop the next-button. `Y l -The escapement pin l''l is rocked forwardly at (Figure before the ram I3! starts ymovi-'ng forwardly. 'The-pin |01 is-rockedl forwardly-by Athe Cam through the'roller "i ISQthe" bell crank |'|8,'therod l I5 and the part l l l-"Ofthfe bellcrank |12 :engaging th'egarmllcfof `the'rock shaft los I and rocking it against the bias of the spring '109.

fastener inserting operation desired, and after mechanismto a positionadjacent the sh-ankjof a button positioned by said vpositioning mechanism, and means 'j-for moving said fastener veject/ing 'mechanism ofl said ram relative to'theram mechy anism to ejec-ta fastener Atherefrom to a position whereit grips said' shank of said button. 'Y 2. Albritton attaching machine including means for-positioning buttons' periodical-ly at anloperating position, a fastene'rmagazine,v means for suppl-ying" U -shaped 'fasteners thereto, ,fastener escapement mechanismf-for*releasing said fasit's "1ower"end (dotted position in Figure' f7) yand thefbar |06 is kthen moved to its dotted postion-`` zine,y 'ramV mechanism to receive the released -fasL tener, a fas-tener ejector sinechvanism in saidram mechanism, i rnea'ns for Y:infin/ing saidffram mechainism and said fastener ejecting mechanism of the fastener is inserted remove the card or garment with the button fastened thereto or shift the card or garment to position for another inserting operation. f f

It will be noted that all of the mechanisms are spring actuated in an advance direction so that if buttons, fasteners or foreign materials become jammed in any part of the machine the operating devices will stop against them under bias of the springs without breaking the machine. A hand wheel Iil is mounted on the drive shaft i2? for convenience in slowly rotating the machine by hand during adjustments or while clearing out obstructio-ns from the operating parts.

Having described one specific embodiment of my invention together with the operation'thereof, I desire it to be understood that this form is selected merelyfor the purpose of facilitating disclosure of the invention rather than for the purpose of limiting the number of forms'which it may assume. It is to be further understood that various modifications, adaptations and alterations may be applied to the specific form disclosed to meetthe requirements of practice without in any s manner departing from the spirit and scope of ythe present invention except as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A button attaching machine including means for positioning` buttons periodically at an operating position, a fastener magazine, means for supplying fasteners to said magazine, fastener escapement mechanism for releasing said fasteners one ata time from said fastener magazine and pushing the remaining fasteners -therein rearwardly to clear the released fastenena slide mechanism to receive the released fastener at one end of the slide thereof, said slide being operable to permit the fastener to drop over the end thereof and turn substantially a quarter revolu-v tion and fall into a vertical position, ram mechanism for receiving the fasteners, a guard on said ram mechanism, a fastener ejectormechanism in said ram mechanism, means for moving said for moving said ram mechanism and said guard saidf ram to a'positioncadjaoent the shank of a button lpositioned''-i-n operatingfposition by said `buttonpostioning mechanism, and reciprocating means for' moving isa-id fastener ej ecting mechanismA of said rainrelative tothe ram' mechanism to `Aa position wherein one leg'f of said fastenei` enters a perforation 'iria-said shank fof said button..

A- f button attaching '-machine-- comprising means for positioning-buttons periodica-ily `atan operating position, a fastener'gmagazinemeans for supplying fasteners 'thereto,fastener escapement mechanism forreleasingisaid fasteners one at a time from said fastener magazine, ram mechl anism to receive the fastener in a predetermined position, aguard on said ram mechanism, means to aposition adjacent a button positioned by said positioning mechanism, and means for moving said fastener out of said ram to a position gripping said shank of said button while still covered by said guard and for retracting said guard and ram While retaining said fastener in its shank gripping position. y v

4, In a button attaching machine, button positioning mechanism, a fastener magazine having an intake end adapted to receive U-shaped fasteners and means comprising a reciprocating element having an initial position adjacent an exit end of the magazine for receiving fasteners one at a time and an advanced position removed therefrom when one leg of said fastener enters a perforation of a shank of said button.

5. In a button attaching machine, a button magazine, button escapement mechanism for releasing the buttons successively from the button magazine, positioning mechanism for engaging the released buttons and moving themv to an operating position, said last mechanism .having means to align the eye of the button and a shank thereon in part ever-receiving position, clamping `mechanism having an operative position temvporarily anchoring said button in said operating position wherein a buttonhole of an element to lWhich-the button is to be attached may be placed around said shank while in a position at rest Without displacing said button from said operating position, and mechanism engaging a U-shaped fastener and moving it to a position wherein one leg of the fastener enters said eye and the fastener thereupon grips said shank 'of said temporarily anchored button.V

6. Inl a, button attaching machine, means for feeding buttons to an operating position, a fastener hopper, af fastener magazine, fastener )escapement mechanism having periodicoperation alternately releasing said fasteners one at a time from said fastener magazine and then pushing the remaining fasteners therein backward to clear the released fastener, a slide mechanism to receive releasedfasteners in a horizontal position one at a time, meansk associated with said slide mechanism engaging Vthe released fastener and adapted to turn the fastener laterally substantially one quarter revolution and into a vertical position, ram mechanism associated with the slide mechanism to receive the fastener in said Vertical position, a fastener ejector mechanism in said ram mechanism, means for moving said ram mechanism and said fastener ejecting mechanism to a position adjacent the shank of a button in said operating position, and means for moving said fastener ejecting mechanism relative to the ram mechanism to a position wherein a fastener is ejected therefrom and grips the shank of said button.

7,. In a button attaching machine, a button magazine, positioning mechanism for receiving buttons from said magazine and moving them to an operating position, clamping mechanism for buttons in said operating position wherein a buttonhole of an element to Whichthe button is to be attached may be placed around the shank of the perforated button without displacing the button from said operating position, and mechanism for inserting one leg of a U-shaped fastener in the perforation of said shank of said button when heldby said clamping mechanism.

8. In a button attaching machine, button supplying mechanism, positioning mechanism for engaging buttons supplied thereto and moving them to an operating position, said last mechanism having means to align a perforated shank of :e button in a fastener Y, receiving position, clamping means for temporarily fixing thevbutyton in said fastener receivingposition and -means for advancing a- U-shaped fastener to buttonengaging position and thereafter inserting one leg of said fastener in the perforation of said shank while the button is in clampedV position.

9. In a button attaching machine, button positioning mechanism including a clamping element adapted to hold a button in fastener receiving position, fastener supplying mechanism, a ram mechanism ,to receive fasteners from saidY fastener supplying mechanism, a fastenerejector mechanism in said ram mechanism, means for moving said ram mechanism and said fastener ejecting mechanism to a position adjacentthe fastener receiving position of a button, and means for moving said fastener ejecting mechanism relative to the ram mechanism to a position wherein a fastener is ejected therefrom and grips a button, said ram thereupon starting in a retracting direction while said ejecting mechanism retains the fastener in gripping position.

JOHN NIELSEN. 

